Full time: Royston Town 0-0 Chelmsford City
Robbie Simpson’s Clarets played out a goalless draw against Royston Town on Saturday in the club’s fourth friendly of pre-season.
Adam Murray thought he had put the hosts into the lead when he headed home a cross delivered from the right flank in the 8th minute, however the forward’s celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s raised flag for an offside offence. City’s best chance of the afternoon also arguably came in the first half when Archie Tamplin’s powerful strike hit the post in the 34th minute.
On the whole though, there were few chances for both the Crows and the Clarets throughout the proceedings which took place on a warm afternoon at Garden Walk.
Once again, Simpson decided to select a starting eleven made up of both first team players and trialists. Ruaridh Donaldson was handed the captain’s armband during the first half, whilst centre back Arthur Penney made his first start for the club since completing his move to Essex earlier this week.
Royston begun the game brightly and thought they had an early lead to show for this positive start, when the versatile Adam Murray beat Clarets goalkeeper Ted Collins to a dangerous cross and headed the ball into an empty City net. The assistant referee quickly raised his flag to signal for an offside offence though, meaning the score remained level.
Midfielder Archie Tamplin was the latest player to come closest to scoring when he hit the post in the 38th minute. Some good work from Freddie Hockey saw him feed the ball into the feet of Tamplin, whose powerful strike rattled off the post and away from danger.
In the second period of the action at Garden Walk, Simpson and his management made a whole host of changes. This included a first run-out in a Clarets shirt for forward Jake Hyde, who was introduced just over an hour into the match.
City went close to scoring in the 80th minute, when a dangerous ball flashed across the Royston six-yard box by Trialist E caused a goalmouth scramble. Second half substitutes Charlie Ruff and Kalvin Kalala were unable to get a decisive touch on the delivery, with the latter of the two having his effort cleared off the goal-line by a Crows defender.
Despite enjoying more of the ball than Chris Watters’ side did during the second forty-five minutes in Hertfordshire, Simpson’s men were unable to create enough clear-cut chances to seal a third win of pre-season.
The referee’s full-time whistle in Hertfordshire signalled the beginning of a 48-hour fixture turnaround for the Clarets for the first time this season; Simpson’s side will welcome National League outfit Barnet to Melbourne Community Stadium on Monday evening in the club’s first home fixture of the 2024-25 campaign.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins; Penney, Donaldson (Crichlow 20’), Tamplin (Trialist F 61’), Dunne (Ruff 61’), Watts (Kalala 46’), Hockey (Hyde 61’), Trialist A (Blackman 61’), Trialist B (Oguntayo 46’), Trialist C, Trialist D (Trialist E 46’).
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